Unemployment Compensation

Pittsburgh unemployment attorney John Stember has represented thousands of individuals in unemployment compensation (UC) referee hearings throughout Western Pennsylvania.

John Stember has served as an adjunct professor for unemployment compensation clinics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Previously, he taught an unemployment law clinic at Duquesne Law School. He is often invited to lecture to other attorneys about UC law. John is a contributing author to the Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s Unemployment Compensation Manual—a reference text used by UC Referees across the state. He has represented claimants at all levels—before hearing Referees, at the UC Board of Review, the Commonwealth Court, and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Before we represent you at the unemployment hearing, we will meet with you to go over your case and thoroughly prepare you and any witnesses for testimony. Hearing preparation includes review of available documents for use as possible exhibits and going over the UC appeal file (which includes the employer’s defense to the claim) with you. We will also strategize with you about whether to ask the UC Referee to subpoena witnesses for testimony.

An unemployment hearing is similar to a mini-trial. The employer and the claimant are allowed to present evidence and testimony, subject to the rules of evidence; cross-examine witnesses; and make closing statements. Many employers choose to be represented by lawyers or experienced unemployment compensation advocates because they know it can make the difference between winning and losing. With so much at stake, we recommend that claimants do not try to go it alone. We offer unemployment clients competitive, flat-fee rates for unemployment compensation hearing representation and appeals.